London 2012 Olympics – How it affects UK airspace
When the UK first bid for the 2012 Olympics it stated that it would ensure
measures would be put in place to meet the Government’s paramount
objective to deliver a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games.
From an airspace perspective this resulted in the Home Office and
Department for Transport introducing a set of security measures that include
airspace restrictions.
What are the restrictions and how will they work?
The major restrictions will be centered on London and the Olympic Park and
will run from 14 July to 15 August 2012. A smaller set of airspace restrictions
will then be put in place for the London 2012 Paralympic Games from 16
August to 12 September 2012.
Airspace restrictions around other Games venues, such as football matches,
will only be in place for the duration of the event at each venue, in line with
those used for other major sporting events. The Government has said that
extra security restrictions may be placed on flights at any time should the
need arise.
Olympic Restrictions 14 July 2012 to 15 August 2012
A Prohibited Zone will be put in place to cover central London and the main
Olympic park. Aircraft will not be allowed within the Prohibited Zone unless
they have undergone crew, passengers and baggage screening in
accordance with the relevant aviation security programme, and are inbound to
or outbound from Heathrow, London City, RAF Northolt or Biggin Hill and
under the control of those airports or NATS Terminal Control or Thames
Radar. They must also meet all the requirements to enter the Restricted Zone.
The airfields at White Waltham, Denham, Fairoaks and London Heliport will
be provided with exemptions to allow both IFR and VFR operations to and
from the Restricted Zone. To use this exemption all aircraft will also need to
comply with the requirements to operate in the Restricted Zone.
Surrounding the Prohibited Zone is a Restricted Zone. Aircraft will be allowed
to enter the Restricted Zone if they can comply with a set of requirements
defined by aircraft type.
Also airfields within three nautical miles of the outer edge of the Restricted
Zone may apply for an exemption to operate and be exempt from the
requirements of the Restricted Zone providing aircraft enter and leave the
Restricted Zone via an agreed route. Airfield managers will be responsible for
ensuring this takes place. If you wish to apply for such an exemption please
fill in the online form at www.airspacesafety.com/olympics.
Aircraft that will be exempted from the restrictions include police, emergency
medical, essential survey and aircraft operating for the Olympic Broadcast
Service. Special procedures apply to these aircraft.
Paralympic Restrictions 16 August 2012 to 12 September 2012
For the Paralympic Games the Prohibited and Restricted Zones are replaced
by an area of prohibited airspace centered on the Olympic Park and two
separate areas of restricted airspace covering the rowing venue at Eton
Dorney and the athletes’ village at Egham. These areas of restricted airspace
will have the same requirements on access as apply to the Prohibited Zone in
place from 14 July 2012 to 15 August 2012. A special exemption will be
granted to the London Heliport to allow operations as per the Olympic
restrictions.
How to use the restricted zone
Flight from, into or within the Restricted Zone is prohibited, unless aircraft
follow set regulations and, although extensive resources are being allocated
to the air traffic control service (Atlas Control) within the Restricted Zone,
access to this airspace may be limited by their capacity.
For most aircraft that will mean filing a flight plan in advance, maintaining
contact with Atlas Control and squawking. Atlas Control, will be provided by
50 RAF LARS controllers, supported by 50 air traffic assistants based at
NATS’ Swanwick Centre. This will be an extensive operation aimed at
providing a service to as many users as possible.
A full guide to flight planning and using Atlas Control will be available in early
2012.
Circuit flying
Circuit flying is permitted at airfields within the Restricted Zone without the
need for a flight plan provided aircraft squawk a discrete transponder code.
Airfield managers must contact Atlas Control daily at commencement and
cessation of flying for allocation and return of a daily changing code, and
aircraft can only leave the visual circuit if they comply with all the
requirements to operate in the Restricted Zone.
Other airspace restrictions
Prohibited airspace will be put in place over the sailing Olympic Village at
Weymouth from 14 July 2012 to 8 September 2012 from surface level to
3,000 feet AMSL. All aircraft are prohibited from flying in this area except:
police, emergency medical, Coastguard Search and Rescue, Olympic
Broadcast Service aircraft, scheduled IFR traffic to and from Bournemouth
Airport and selected MoD aircraft. Special operating procedures will be
developed for Eyres Field gliding site.
Temporary Controlled Airspace
The CAA has approved temporary changes to controlled airspace in areas to
the South West, South East and North East of the London Terminal Control
Area during the Olympics. All of this temporary controlled airspace will be
withdrawn on 16 August 2012.
NATS and Stobart Air will use the airspace to safely handle the increased
movements mainly from business jets. In addition, temporary controlled
airspace will be introduced in the vicinity of Manston Airport.
Full operational details of the changes will appear in Spring 2012 and NATS
will produce an educational package on how to use the airspace.
Slot co ordination
To protect controlled airspace over the South East of England from
overcrowding a reservation system has been established to ensure that all
aircraft using controlled airspace and intending to use most of the airfields in
the south east of England obtain an airport slot.
All aircraft arriving or departing from these airports during the period 21st of
July 2012 to the 15th of August 2012 and routing through controlled airspace
will be required to have an arrival and/or departure slot. This is intended for
aircraft using the airways system and is not applicable to an aircraft that
intend to use the airfield after a VFR flight or has transited controlled airspace
during a VFR flight.
Slots are now available for pre-booking from most airfields covered by the
scheme.
Get more information and keep up-to-date
To get much more extensive information on the changes, download charts
and keep up-to-date on the issue visit the Airspace and Safety Initiative
website at www.airspacesafety.com/olympics.